The 338 new jobs up for grabs at Deloitte will be offered not only to graduates but across a broad spectrum, including apprentices.

Senior partner at the firm Jackie Henry yesterday gave assurances that the employment opportunites to be shared during the company's bouyant phase of expansion would not be the reserve of solely experienced professionals and graduates but also people considering retraining, school leavers and those seeking to gain employment through apprenticeships.

During a media event to announce the jobs, Mrs Henry said the company had been working closely with the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) as well as the Belfast Metropolitan College during their plans to chose Belfast as its growth centre.

She was referring to a £800,000 grant to support training for 60 staff, offered by DEL through its Assured Skills programme.

Through the programme, DEL has been assisting with training of staff at Deloitte's Technology Studio which specialises in Data Analytics. Mrs Henry said: "Our schools and colleges, our departments of education and employment and learning and Invest NI can take satisfaction from the fact that they are producing and supporting competently skilled people for a 21st century economy."

She also confirmed that the "first cohort of apprentices will be in by this time next year".

Dr Stephen Farry said companies like Deloitte "are the key drivers of the economic growth".

"Building on my department's track record with Deloitte we are currently delivering the second cohort of the Data Analytics Academy and plan to deliver addtional training academies shortly.

"The work of my department is strengthening the talents of our local people to meet current and future skills needs."

"The Assured Skills programme guarantees that we have people trained and 'job-ready', ensuring that the skills employers require are available to them in Northern Ireland."